219 Keith Valley Road, Horsham, PA 19044 • (267) 803-4840 • info@self-hc.com

Message From The Home Office

www.self-hc.com

If I were to ask you your name, it wouldn’t even begin to describe who you are. The same goes for the name of our company. You may know us as “Self Heating & Cooling.” But we are so much more than a heating and cooling company.

We are your conservation company – helping you save energy and money throughout the year.

You can easily conserve energy with “baby steps” like installing a new programmable thermostat or burner control. Or, you can take a running leap by upgrading your home comfort systems (we’ve got some great money-saving offers to help cushion your landing!) or even “going solar.” However you choose to begin your conservation journey, we can show you the way.

This issue of MAXimum Comfort News offers a few pointers on how to conserve and save. You’ll learn:Q Why cooling system maintenance is so importantQ When a cooling emergency is really an emergencyQ How you can have better indoor air quality in your homeQ Why a ductless mini-split system is a great way to cool your home

Plus, you’ll find out how to take control of your fuel costs, discover why you should fill your oil tank before summer comes, check out why propane is a terrific warm weather energy source, and learn how to keep the power on when bad weather closes in. Don’t forget to take advantage of our super Carrier spring offer, and enter our contest to win a $75 Amazon gift card!

At Self Heating & Cooling, we provide complete energy conservation solutions, backed by outstanding products and incomparable service. Call us today – we’re ready to share our advice with you.

Sincerely,

Jonathan Self

Spring 2013

We Provide Complete Energy Conservation Solutions

P.S. Call now to sign up for our pre-pay and cap price programs for heating oil and propane.

A Brief History of Air Conditioning1758 Benjamin Franklin and John Hadley discover that evaporation of alcohol and other volatile liquids can cool down an object enough to freeze water.

1820 Inventor Michael Faraday makes the same discovery in England when he compresses and liquefies ammonia.

1830s Dr. John Gorrie builds an ice-making machine that uses compression to make buckets of ice and then blows air over them. He patents the idea in 1851.

1902 Willis Carrier invents the “Apparatus for Treating Air.”

1906 Stuart Cramer creates a ventilating device that adds water vapor to the air of textile plants in North Carolina. He calls it “air conditioning.”

1931 The window air conditioner is invented. The price, in today’s dollars, is between $120,000 and $600,000!

1939 Packard invents the first air-conditioned car (without dashboard controls).

1970s Central air comes along. R-12, commonly known as Freon, is used as the refrigerant.

2010 HVAC system manufacturers may not produce new A/Cs and heat pumps containing Freon, which is linked to ozone depletion. Manufacturers switch to more eco-friendly coolants such as Carrier’s Puron®.

MaximumComfort News

2

“Why do I need annual maintenance on my central air conditioner?” you might say. “I only use it a few months out of the year.”

There’s probably no other home appliance that takes a beating like your central air conditioner. Your unit is probably switched on every day during the warm weather. The outdoor condenser is exposed to the hot summer sun – as well as rain, dirt, debris, insects, and even mold. That’s why you need annual maintenance to make sure that your A/C works at its very best.

Cooling system maintenance will help you save time, money and stress!• Your A/C will last longer, saving you the cost of buying a new unit.• You could lower your utility bills by increasing your energy efficiency by up

to 10% – even higher if your cooling system is low on refrigerant or has other deficiencies that are routinely spotted during a maintenance call.

• You’ll save on repair costs, including parts and labor.• You’ll protect your investment in your cooling equipment – and, if your

central air conditioner doubles as your heat pump during the winter, that’s even more reason for preventive maintenance.

• You’ll add more value to your home – an energy-efficient, well-running air conditioner is a great selling point.

• You’ll feel more comfortable – and that’s what having an air conditioner is all about!

If, during the course of your checkup, we find any minor problems, we’ll fix them before they turn into costly repairs.

Don’t give your cooling system the cold shoulder – reward it for its efforts with an annual maintenance checkup and you could save thousands of dollars in energy bills and repair costs. Call now for your appointment.

The last thing you need on a blazingly hot summer day is for your air conditioner to conk out on you. But … you may not have a cooling emergency on your hands after all! Here’s how to check your central air conditioner before calling for emergency service.

Why You Need Cooling System Maintenance

You could lower your utility bills by increasing your energy efficiency by up even higher if your cooling system is low on refrigerant or has other

– and, if your central air conditioner doubles as your heat pump during the winter, that’s

– an energy-efficient, well-running air

– and that’s what having an air conditioner

Here’s what’s typically included in a cooling system checkup:

3 Check operating pressures3 Check refrigerant charge

3 Check filters3 Check compressors

3 Check fan motor3 Check all major parts

3 Lubricate all moving parts3 Tighten all working connections

If you’re enrolled in our cooling service contract, your annual

A/C maintenance is included!

Is It Really a Cooling Emergency?• Check the settings on your thermostat. Make sure the

temperature control selector is set below the current room temperature, and the system switch is on the COOL or AUTO position. The fan switch should be set to ON for continuous airflow or AUTO if you want the blower to operate only while the air conditioner is operating.

• Try to get the air conditioner to turn on by lowering the thermostat to its lowest temperature setting.

• If the air flow out of your registers seems low, check the air filter. An extremely dirty air filter can block air flow.

• Make sure all registers are open and not obstructed.• Check the power disconnect switch by each unit (outdoor and indoor).• Check the fuse/breaker at the electrical panel for both the outdoor and

indoor unit.• If the problem persists, please call us.

We’ll take care of it!

❑ Please enter me in your contest to win a $75 Amazon gift card. Please see entry rules.

Simply complete the form below and send it back to us.

Name (first, middle initial, last)

Address

City State

Phone E-mail Address

ZIP

I’d like more information on:(check all applicable)

❑ Cooling System Maintenance

❑ Cooling and Heating Service Contracts

❑ Ductless Mini-Split Systems

❑ Indoor Air Quality Equipment

❑ Carrier Comfort Equipment

❑ Special Rebates and Offers

❑ Other: ________________________

Want more information?

3

More and more of our customers are asking about ductless mini split air conditioning systems. And with good reason …

If you’ve always wanted central air conditioning, but don’t want to deal with the inconvenience of installing ductwork in your home, then a ductless mini-split A/C system is for you!

This energy-efficient ductless air conditioner (which serves as a heat pump during the winter) allows you to cool your home without ductwork!

Perfect for installing in tight, compact spaces, ductless systems consist of an indoor air handling unit and a slim-line outdoor condenser unit, connected by refrigerant lines running through a small (3-to-4-inch) opening in the wall or ceiling. The sleek, compact indoor unit can be installed high up on a wall or suspended from the ceiling (with easy access via remote control), and it’s so high-tech it looks nothing like a typical air conditioner. The outdoor unit cycles the refrigerant through the lines to and from the indoor unit, where the air is conditioned and then quietly distributed into the open space.

The Advantages of Ductless Mini SplitsAdvantages of ductless mini-splitsQ ENERGY SAVINGS: Because they have no

ducts, mini-splits avoid the energy losses associated with the ductwork of central forced air systems.

Q ZONING: We can install as many as four indoor air handling units (for four zones or rooms) connected to one outdoor unit. Each of the zones has its own thermostat, for greater energy savings.

Q SAFETY: Split systems can help keep your home safer, because there is only a small hole in the wall, while wall and window air conditioners can provide easy access for intruders.

Q REBATES: Federal tax credits, manufacturers’ rebates and other incentives may be available.

This spring go ductless! Experience true comfort and amazing savings with a ductless mini-split system! Call us for details.

✁

Ductless mini-split air conditioners are great for …

Q Houses with “non-ducted” heating systems, such as hydronic (hot water heat) and radiant panels

Q Installation in compact spaces

Q RetrofitsQ Home additionsQ Very efficient new

homes that require only a small space conditioning system

MaximumComfort News

No-CreamPasta PrimaveraFrom allrecipes.comPrep: 25 min., Cook: 35 min., Yield: 6 servingsIngredients1 (12 ounce) package penne pasta1 yellow squash, chopped 1 zucchini, chopped 1 carrot, julienned 1/2 red bell pepper, julienned 1/2 pint grape tomatoes 1 cup fresh green beans, trimmed and cut into 1 inch pieces 5 spears asparagus, trimmed and cut into 1 inch pieces 1/4 cup olive oil, divided 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper 1/2 tablespoon lemon juice 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning 1 tablespoon butter 1/4 large yellow onion, thinly sliced 2 cloves garlic, thinly sliced 2 teaspoons lemon zest 1/3 cup chopped fresh basil leaves 1/3 cup chopped fresh parsley 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar 1/2 cup grated Romano cheese

Directions1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil.2. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add penne pasta and

cook for 10 to 12 minutes or until al dente; drain.3. In a bowl, toss squash, zucchini, carrot, red bell pepper, tomatoes,

green beans, and asparagus with 2 tablespoons olive oil, salt, pepper, lemon juice, and Italian seasoning. Arrange vegetables on the baking sheet, and roast 15 minutes in the preheated oven, until tender.

4. Heat remaining olive oil and butter in a large skillet. Stir in the onion and garlic, and cook until tender. Mix in cooked pasta, lemon zest, basil, parsley, and balsamic vinegar. Gently toss and cook until heated through. Remove from heat and transfer to a large bowl. Toss with roasted vegetables and sprinkle with Romano cheese to serve.

Healthy Recipe Corner

4

Sneezing, wheezing, coughing … it must be allergy season! But there’s no reason to suffer, because we have several effective and affordable solutions to improve your indoor air quality. Why is indoor air quality equipment important? Tightly sealed and insulated homes are great at maintaining comfort … but that also means that some pretty nasty things are trapped indoors, too – like dust, odors, chemical fumes, pet dander, irritants, microscopic insects, mold, mildew, viruses, and more. And, every time you open the doors and windows to let the warm air in this spring, pollen from trees, weeds and grasses enters your home.

We feature high-quality Carrier indoor air quality solutions, including:

Q Air cleaners: Carrier’s state-of-the-art air purifier systems trap and kill bacteria, viruses, mold spores, allergens and other pollutants in the conditioned air – and keep them out.

Q Fresh air ventilators: Carrier’s innovative ventilators are designed to remove stale air from your home, while keeping valuable energy from escaping.

Q Ultraviolet (UV) lamps: Carrier’s UV lamps protect the indoor coil of your heating and air conditioning system, effectively killing off mold and bacteria before they can be pushed into the air inside your home.

We also specialize in Carrier humidifiers, which our customers tell us they can’t live without during winter. Plus, we ensure our customers’ peace of mind all year long with Carrier carbon monoxide alarms, which feature sophisticated electronics and unmatched sensor technology to detect and record the levels of dangerous CO circulating in indoor air.

Breathe easier this allergy season – and every season. Call now for a custom

indoor air quality consultation!

Nutrition per serving: Calories: 406;

Cholesterol: 15 mg; Fiber: 5.9g; Sodium: 252 mg;

Carbohydrates: 54.4g; Fat: 15.4g; Protein: 13.6g

The Advantages of Ductless Mini Splits Aaaachooo! It’s Time for IAQ!

(Indoor Air Quality Equipment, That Is!)

If Hurricane Sandy taught folks on the East Coast of the US one lesson, it was to get a whole-house emergency back-up generator.

When the next big storm strikes, you’ll have the peace of mind knowing that you have heat, hot water, fresh food in the fridge, a working stove, TV, Internet, and more.

Self Heating & Cooling offers Generac emergency backup generators in a variety of capacities, depending on the types of appliances you wish to operate during an outage. Safely fueled by propane, your generator automatically starts itself when the outage begins and provides emergency power until main power is restored, when it then shuts off.

We provide complete generator installation and service, as well as both automatic and “will call” propane delivery.

Don’t face another storm without an emergency backup generator and a dependable supply of propane from Self Heating & Cooling! Give us a call at 267-803-4840.

With insanely high electricity costs (and utilities that have underperformed, to say the least), it’s time to switch to propane.

When you upgrade from an electric-fired water heater to one powered by propane, your hot water costs will drop dramatically. It typically costs half as much to operate a standard propane water heater as it does to operate an electric water heater. Your savings will be even greater a if you consider switching to an tankless propane-fired water heater or boiler coil. An ENERGY STAR®-qualified tankless unit costs about 60 percent less to operate than a standard electric water heater, while providing a longer-lasting stream of hot water. If you have an electric heat pump, consider converting to propane. You’ll experience heating savings AND greater comfort. In addition to water and home heating, versatile, efficient and safe propane is ideal for heating garages, and powering stoves and dryers. Propane is the perfect spring and summer fuel, too – our customers use it for their gas grills, pools, hot tubs and patio heaters.

Self Heating & Cooling can help you switch to propane, from consultation through installation: Q Propane delivery Q Installation of top-quality propane-fired heating equipment Q Propane tank installation Q Complete propane equipment maintenance and repair Q Comprehensive maintenance agreements Q Convenient payment options

When electricity prices are insane, switch to propane! Call Self Heating & Cooling today at 267-803-4840.

MaximumComfort News

5

If there was one article in our last issue of this newsletter that got our phones ringing, it was the one about our budget plan – so we thought we’d promote this valuable program once again.

Our convenient budget plan takes your yearly energy cost and divides it into 11 equal monthly payments. We estimate your monthly budget payment based on the previous year’s heating oil usage.

With our budget plan also comes the opportunity to receive deliveries of AMERIgreen 100% American Fuel – drilled, refined and sold exclusively in North America. By filling your tank with AMERIgreen, you assert your energy independence 3 ways:1. You help support the American

economy by purchasing domestic fuel2. You keep more jobs in the USA3. You increase our nation’s energy

security.

Take control of your fuel costs AND where your fuel comes from – to sign up for our budget plan and receive AMERIgreen deliveries, call 267-803-4840 today!

Keep Your Oil Tank Full This SummerDid you know that if you don’t keep your heating oil tank full this summer it could lead to problems come fall?

If your oil tank is only partially full over the summer, you’re leaving a pocket of air where water can condense. Condensation means moisture, and moisture invites bacteria growth. When bacteria die, they collect at the bottom of your tank, creating sludge – a leading cause of heating system breakdowns. The condensed water can also corrode your oil tank, and if it gets into your heating system, becomes another cause of breakdowns.

So, take a moment to check your tank gauge, and if it isn’t at “full,” please call us at 267-803-4840 for a delivery.

When Electricity Prices Are Insane,

Switch to Propane!

Take Control of Your Fuel Costs!

Why You Need an Emergency Generator

WIN A $75 AMAZON.COM GIFT CARD We’re giving away an amazon.com gift card worth $75.00 to one lucky Self Heating & Cooling customer! As the world’s largest online retailer, amazon.com sells just about everything under the sun.

What’s more, in our continuing effort to go green, you may now enter the contest online! Just go to www.servassure.com and complete the easy entry form. You may also mail in the entry form on page 3. No purchase necessary to enter and win. Winner will be selected by random drawing at contest end (May 31, 2013) from among all eligible entries received. Odds of winning depend on number of eligible entries received. Contest is open to individuals 18 years and older. Void where prohibited by law. Subject to all federal, state and local laws and regulations.

N E W C O N T E S T !

219 Keith Valley RoadHorsham, PA 19044

(267) 803-4840 info@self-hc.com

L IC. # PA005702

Visit: www.self-hc.com

1-800-796-3342 • www.primediany.comNewsletter by6

1-800-796-3342 • www.primediany.comNewsletter by

• History of A/C• Cooling System Maintenance• Is It a Cooling Emergency?• Ductless Mini-Splits• Indoor Air Quality• Recipe Corner• Carrier “Cool Cash” Offer• Switch to Propane• Budget Plan• Fill Your Oil Tank Now• You Need a Generator• Win a $75 Amazon Gift Card!• Fall Contest Winner• We Do Pool Openings

WHAT’S INSIDE

Let us ensure your health and safety this swimming season – with proper cleaning and chemical procedures from Self Pools & Leisure. For just $299.00**, we will assemble and install all pool equipment that was removed for winterization. If the pool water is green, five gallons of liquid chlorine* will be added. We will start, check and leave the filtration system and heater running, provided the customer filled the pool or spa up to operating level. Chemicals can be bought through service technicians on the job or ordered by calling our office during normal business hours. We deliver throughout the season – and, of course, we do pool closings in the fall.

Use Your Cover Pump to Remove Water That Accumulated on Your Cover.REMEMBER: Your Pool Must be Filled to Normal Operating Level Prior to Our Arrival.

It’s that time of year again! Everyone in the pool!

*$22.00 per carboy of liquid chlorine (includes sales tax).** Winter cover removal is extra. Call the office for details.

We Do Pool Openings!We Do Pool Openings!

Call Self Pools & Leisure today at (267) 803-4840.Ask about pool maintenance and weekly or monthly valet services.

WE ALSO SPECIALIZE IN PROPANE POOL HEATERS!

JUST $29900!**

Spring 2013

$500 Holiday Shopping Spree WinnerThe winner of the $500 Shopping Spree contest featured in the Fall 2012 issue is Connie Busby of Lansdale, PA. Congratulations! See above for our latest contest.